Jump to content

Email From Ebay Customer


Recommended Posts

Got an email from a chap I sold a watch on ebay last year. Initial thought,"Here we go, wants a refund"........ But no, reading on he says he opened the watch and was so impressed with the work I'd done he wants me to service some of his collection....... He lives local, so going to see him and have a look. Told him I'm not a professional and do not have indemnity insurance, but he says that's ok.

Shall let you know how I get on..............

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a wonderful compliment mate, and a great confidence builder, which is so important as well.

 

One piece of advise mate.  If the watches he wants you to work on are ones that you could not easily replace (due to cost or rarity), get a statutory declaration signed by him that covers your obligations responsibilities if the watch is damaged or lost in your custody.  You've already explained to him that you're not a professional, so he should have no issues with signing it.  If he does, then thank him for the offer, and walk away.

 

This is VERY important protection for you, and something I will be indeed doing with any watch I work on over $700 replacement cost.

Remember, in regards to this transaction, he is NOT your friend, he is a client ... and the two should never mix.

Edited by Lawson
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The rewards for patience, industry and merit are yours Legarm and well deserved I am sure.  Heed the advice of the ancients others though, a little click flying into oblivion can cosy a packet for a good watch. 

 

Congratulations,

 

Vic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Update

Just thought I'd let you guys, & Gals..... know what has happened with the servicing of the gents watches. Well it's gone very well, I explained this was my hobby and that I would do them in my own time and with no guarantees, he was absolutely fine with this and so far have done about 12 for him. They are better quality watches, that I can't afford, so he puts them up for resale and makes a tidy profit. So far I have, now been able to afford the Timegrapher 1900, I was yearning for and still have a few quid stashed away.

He is pleased and so am I.

Got another commission to do an Omega Genevé, cal 565 service and repair, for an acquaintance, all done and he was over the moon as it was his long departed fathers. Did it mainly for the experience, but he was very grateful....... I like working on quality watches, you can feel the difference as you service them.

I wish I was young enough to train to be a bona fide watchmaker, but the years are flying past and I don't think the missus would like it.

Any way I hope you are all well and I await my friends next batch of goodies.

Need to work out what's next on the shopping list................. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good news, especially if it got you a T1900, I think that's the one Clockboy has got and seems well pleased with it. Also 12 watches gone for re-sale is a bit more than tinkering so outstanding work.

I was out getting suits for the daughters wedding and one of my putative son in laws relations was there and asked if I could have a look at a pocket watch for him, not sure of the make but later advised it is an Omega. Oh dear ! I had already said I would look at it for him when I thought it would just be run of the mill services or something like that. I await its arrival but with a little trepidation.

Cheers,

Vic

Edited by Vich
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • With something like this a gasket seal for instance if i cant find the relevant information i would use instinct to decide what fits and works best. You have the original gasket ( well maybe its original or hopefully it is )so its fairly easy to determine what material to use. Shape , for that i would look at the gasket seatings, are there grooves or recesses in either the case back or case or both, what shape are the grooves, flat or round etc, how does the gasket sit and behave in those seatings. Next thickness,that is going to be a bit of a guess, especially if the gasket is a soft one that has been heavily compressed over time. This is where a selection is going to come in handy, personally i would be choosing one that is giving me the feel of compression as its coming into contact with both of the mating surfaces. But not so much that the gasket is going to squash out and become distorted, again this is guesswork and feel is required with the allowance of compression over time, something you may want to check after six months. This part is a little moot as without a pressure test, good water resistance is not assured so the watch needs to treated as such and not as if it were a new diving watch ( not that i would treat any new diving watch as if were ). What you want to expect from your efforts is a little accidental rain catch, if you want more water resistance guarantee then a professional gasket replacement and pressure test is what you should be seeking which will be more than the value of this watch. Coincidentally i have the same watch, been searching for a stem for it for a while now. 
    • It might not be a hook it might be something like this. But still the mainspring is catching on something on the slip ring because it doesn't have its own outer slipping part like the modern ones. The image below came from some vintage Omega thing I'll have to see if I can find where that has gone to.documentation A different book has this          
    • I did not see a hook on the slip ring. I will check again tomorrow.
    • I think I'm having a confusion here? You would apply the breaking grease to the inside of the barrel then the slip ring would go inside. Then the mainspring goes in and it catches on the hook on the slip ring.
    • Thank you for the once again very thorough and informative reply. I'm sure at this point it's academic, but I'm always curious to know best practices. This then implies that If I'm planning to reuse the old mainspring (which I am), I should also reinstall the slip ring. I will do that and apply braking grease to the inside of the slip ring as if it were the barrel. This makes the most sense to me. Also, that bit about the center cannon pinion is very helpful. That wasn't in the tech sheet I have (attached) dated 1970. Omega 1001(1).pdf
×
×
  • Create New...